Best overall

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13, with a 13-inch, 1080p display, 7th generation Intel Core processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe solid-state drive, will perform all day long on its strong battery. You can expect between 11 and 13 hours of battery life while under a decent workload thanks to increased optimization of the new Kaby Lake processor.

Bottom line: The laptop with the best battery life is the Dell XPS 13 with an FHD display.

One more thing: Upgrading the XPS 13 to an 1800p touch display is tempting, but your battery life will take about a 20% hit.

Why the Dell XPS 13 has the longest battery life

New Kaby Lake processors have made the already stellar battery life in the XPS 13 even better.

If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop with a slim profile, unbeatable display, and long battery life, you can call off the search. The Dell XPS 13 with a 13.3-inch FHD display comes at you with the new 7th generation Kaby Lake processor — expect about 5-10% extra life from the already great 60WHr battery. Under a moderate workload, you will realistically see about 11-13 hours of life.

In addition to the latest Intel processor, you get up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 256GB PCIe solid-state drive — altogether, this is more than enough hardware to get you through your daily workload, yet the entire thing weighs only 2.7 pounds (1.2kg).

The XPS 13's inner body is made of durable carbon fiber, and the backlit keyboard set into it is a pleasure to type on. The brushed-aluminum outer body is resistant to scratches and is available in both silver and rose gold to better your sense of style. Configurations for the XPS 13 start at about $800.

Best for business

Lenovo ThinkPad X260

Lenovo's ThinkPad X260 has a rugged build that's perfect for your time in the field, and its bright display with a matte finish lets you see clearly in pretty much any place. Get a 6th generation Intel Core processor, up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and up to a 512GB SATA solid-state drive to handle your daily workload. The X260 has two batteries: an internal 23.2WHr battery will keep your laptop going if you want to remove the external 23.2WHr battery and replace it with a 72WHr battery. This bigger, beefier battery will run all day, and gives your laptop a bit of an incline for more comfortable typing. Configurations start at about $764.

Bottom line: The business laptop with the best battery life is the Lenovo ThinkPad X260.

One more thing: This laptop comes with three USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet port, a Mini DisplayPort, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader.

Best 2-in-1

Microsoft Surface Book

To get great battery life, you usually have to go with a laptop with an FHD or lower resolution display — not here. The Microsoft Surface Book has a 13.5-inch display with a unique 3000x2000 resolution that is absolutely brilliant. The battery in this laptop is split into two parts: an 18WHr battery resides in the tablet, while a 52WHr battery resides in the keyboard. Together, you can expect up to about 10 hours of life. All this from a laptop with a 6th generation Intel Core processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to a 1TB solid-state drive. Configurations start at about $1500.

Bottom line: The 2-in-1 laptop with the best battery life compared to performance is definitely the Surface Book.

One more thing: Go with an Intel Core i5 configuration if you want the absolute best battery life.

Best 15-inch

Dell XPS 15

The XPS 15 features a beautiful 15.6-inch, 1080p display in a slim, light body. Get a 6th generation Intel Core processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to a 512GB PCIe solid-state drive. If you're into gaming, the XPS 15 comes with a powerful NVIDIA GTX 960M GPU that will run most current games with ease. For the best battery life, go with a configuration that includes the 84WHr battery — expect up to about 10 hours of life. Prices for the bigger battery and FHD display start at about $1650.

Bottom line: If you're looking for a 15-inch laptop with fantastic battery life, you can't go wrong with the Dell XPS 15.

One more thing: While it might be tempting to upgrade to the 4K touch display, it will decrease your battery life by about 20%.

Best for mobility

Samsung Notebook 9

Looking for a slim and light 15-inch laptop with great battery life? The Samsung Notebook 9 comes with the hardware needed to get through a moderate workload; a 6th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive are included. The laptop is only 0.57 inches (1.4cm) thick, weighs only 2.9 pounds (1.3kg), yet has a battery that will last up to nine hours. This laptop starts at about $1070.

Bottom line: For a slim, light laptop that will travel with you anywhere and not run out of juice, check out the Samsung Notebook 9.

One more thing: Fast-charging capability means you can get a full charge in about 90 minutes.

Conclusion

Need a rugged laptop that will put up with field conditions? Go with the Lenovo ThinkPad X260. Need a laptop that converts into a tablet? Check out the Microsoft Surface Book. If you love a laptop with a 15-inch display, you won't want to miss the Dell XPS 15, and if you're a mobile person, the Samsung Notebook 9 will make a great companion. For the best laptop with exceptional battery life, opt for the Dell XPS 13.

Best overall

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13, with a 13-inch, 1080p display, 7th generation Intel Core processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe solid-state drive, will perform all day long on its strong battery. You can expect between 11 and 13 hours of battery life while under a decent workload thanks to increased optimization of the new Kaby Lake processor.

Bottom line: The laptop with the best battery life is the Dell XPS 13 with an FHD display.

One more thing: Upgrading the XPS 13 to an 1800p touch display is tempting, but your battery life will take about a 20% hit.

Would have liked to read battery life according to real world use based on on parameters of light, moderate and heavy use. Other data is fine, but without some real world battery life numbers its still difficult to get a true impression of the claim made by the title of the article.